DEFENDER David van Zanten has told new St Mirren recruit Adam Campbell he will be on the path to the top if he can make the same impact as Paul Dummett and Conor Newton.

The 18-year-old striker is the third Newcastle youngster to be loaned to Saints in the last 18 months as part of link-up between the clubs.

Left-back Dummett and midfielder Newton both arrived last year in time to help the Paisley outfit end a 26-year wait for a major trophy as they landed the League Cup.

Newton - who scored in the 3-2 Hampden triumph over Hearts in March - returned for a second loan spell this season and is expected to see out the season with the Buddies, while Dummett has earned himself a new six-year deal with Alan Pardew's Magpies side having made an immediate impression upon his return to St James' Park this summer.

Now right-back Van Zanten has told England Under-19s cap Campbell to follow that example if he wants to become a Premier League star.

The Irishman told Press Association Sport: "We've done well with our loans from Newcastle and hopefully Adam can make the same kind of impact as the other lads we've had up.

"They haven't just been sending us up young players who don't offer much to the first-team. It's quality performers we've had use of.

"It will help that Dummy has gone back and made such a big impact in the first team. Newcastle will be happy to continue sending players back up if they are going to improve like Dummy did.

"He's been given a new contract since he has gone back to St James' Park so you can see what they think of the education he received here. If Adam does the same he will be doing well."

Campbell will not be in the Saints squad for Sunday's visit of Hearts as his move cannot be registered until January 1, but once the paperwork is completed the teenager is expected to provide Steven Thompson with assistance in attack.

However, Van Zanten says the 10-goal frontman will not give up the mantle of being Saints' top marksman easily.

"Thommo has been bearing the goalscoring load himself these last few weeks and against Dundee United yesterday I thought he was the best player on the pitch," he said after the Buddies' 4-1 romp against the Arabs.

"He set the tone for us up front and scored two goals. But I'm not sure he will want anyone coming in to share that goal burden - he's quite happy doing it himself.

"He doesn't want to be rested. He wants to play in every game. People talk about his age but he's as fit as ever. He never gave the United players a minute's rest.

"When he was playing down south, he wasn't really known as a prolific scorer but that's what he is now. The first player we look for to get us a goal is the big man and he doesn't disappoint."

Van Zanten had to replace compatriot Jim Goodwin two minutes before half-time against United as boss Danny Lennon feared his skipper, who was already on a booking after flattening John Rankin, would get himself sent off.

In an unusual move, the Terrors even posted footage of a clip showing Goodwin hitting Stuart Armstrong with a fore-arm smash on their YouTube page to back up Jackie McNamara's claim that referee Bobby Madden should have acted before Saints were able to take their captain off.

But Van Zanten does not believe Goodwin will go any easier against the Hearts players on Sunday.